6 Tips for Healthier Driving

From pollution to pain, learn how to steer clear of some common on-the-road hazards.

The average American spends 293 hours a year driving. Better make yourself comfortable.
(Photo: Alex Carlan/Shutterstock)

Spend a lot of time behind the wheel getting from point A to
point B? You might be concerned about the impact of those miles on the planet.
But driving also affects your own health.

Try this advice — in addition to the obvious safety
tips like buckling up and not driving impaired or talking or texting behind the
wheel — to boost your wellness on the road.

Recirculate on red

When
you’re stopped at a red light, chances are you pull up a few feet, or worse, a
few inches, from the car in front of you — and its exhaust
pipe. That’s a mistake. According to a study from the University of Surrey
in England, air pollution at intersections with traffic lights is 29 times
higher than on the open road.

You
probably can’t avoid these intersections, so do the next best thing: When you
stop for a red light, keep your distance from the car in front of you (which
will also help in the event the car behind you rear-ends you). Close the
windows if they’re open, and turn off the fan or switch to recirculate mode.

Combat new car smell

That smell is the result of countless chemicals, including toxic
volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Car manufacturers have been phasing out the
worst offenders, but it can’t hurt to air out your car whenever possible by
opening the windows while it’s in the driveway, if it’s safe to do so, especially
during the first six months.

Heat from the sun can make the “off-gassing” worse, so use a
solar shade on your windshield. And dust the dashboard often, since the dust
likely contains chemicals you’d rather get rid of.

Wear sunscreen

You slather on sunscreen for sitting on the beach, but what
about for sitting behind the wheel? While you can’t get sunburned through the
glass (glass blocks skin-burning UVA rays), you still have to contend with
cancer- and wrinkle-causing UVB rays. Windshields are treated to block these
rays, but the side and rear windows aren’t, according to the Skin Cancer
Foundation.

Ever notice you have more wrinkles or “age spots” on the
left side of your face? If you drive a lot, that may be why.

Apply a full-spectrum sunscreen before you hit the road. To
protect your peepers, sunglasses are also a good idea.

Embrace ergonomics

If you get neck, shoulder or lower back pain while driving, you
may need to adjust your seat and/or steering wheel.

Make your
knees
slightly lower than your hips.
This is challenging in some low-slung cars and those with bucket seats. Adjust
whatever you need to adjust — seat height, seat pan tilt, distance to
steering wheel — to get there.

Lean just
slightly back. An angle of 100 to 110 degrees, or just slightly reclined,
puts the least amount of pressure on the lower back. If you’re leaning too far
back, you may find yourself thrusting your head forward, which can hurt your
neck.

Scoot your
seat up or back.
You want your arms comfortably bent, and you shouldn’t
need to lean forward. Without stretching out your leg, you should be able to
press down the accelerator or brake pedal all the way with your whole foot, not
just your toes. The center of the steering wheel should be about 10 to 12
inches from your chest.

Move your
hands often.
Don’t stay in the “10 o’clock and 2 o’clock” position all the
time; change your hand position frequently. If the steering wheel is too high
for comfort, lower it.

Relax. A death
grip on the steering wheel can cause muscle tension. If you’re tense you
may also lean forward at the waist, which is a recipe for pain.

On longer trips, take breaks. Get out and stretch.

Pre-portion healthy
snacks

You’ve heard of mindless eating? Snacking behind the wheel
is about as mindless as it gets, since your main focus is on the road (which is
the real reason you shouldn’t eat while driving — it’s distracting and
causes accidents).

If you must eat behind the wheel, instead of keeping a whole bag of
chips or cookies within reach, place an appropriate-sized snack in a zip-close
bag for the trip. Carrots and almonds are examples of smart choices.

Foods to avoid, and not just because of the calories but because they’re
especially dangerous to eat while driving, include
drippy
foods like juicy hamburgers, spurting foods like jelly doughnuts, and hot beverages.

Remember that “handy” snacks like granola bars
and “nutrition” or “energy” bars may have more calories and sugar than you
assume. Check the label.

Find your zen

Even if you’re not prone to road rage, driving can be
stressful. Doing it during rush hour can even temporarily raise your blood
pressure.

To turn down the pressure, find ways to unclench. Leave extra
(or at least enough) time to get where you’re going, play music you enjoy and
practice deep breathing when a traffic jam gets your ire up. Get out of the way
of aggressive drivers — trying to “teach them a lesson” by holding your ground
simply isn’t worth it.